Federal action demanded on dialysis dilemma

Updated
Thu Mar 11 14:44:00 EST 2010

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Dialysis crisis 'beyond a joke'

7pm TV News SA

The Senate has voted in favour of a Greens' motion calling on the Federal Government to intervene in a deadlock between the South Australian and Northern Territory governments over renal dialysis patients.

Patients from South Australia's far north-west Aboriginal lands used to travel to Alice Springs for dialysis but the NT stopped accepting new interstate patients a year ago, saying its resources were stretched.

But the ban has been lifted for those in Western Australia after negotiations between the WA Government and the NT.

Now, the Senate has asked South Australian Health Minister John Hill to say what impediments are preventing his Government from entering into a similar agreement.

It also demands the Federal Government intervene - with the Greens saying it is unacceptable the situation has been allowed to drag on for so many months.

Meanwhile, remote renal patients and church leaders will gather in Alice Springs today to pray for a change in the ban preventing access to dialysis in the town.

The coordinator of the NPY Women's Council, Andrea Mason, says the service coincides with World Kidney Day.

She says travelling more than 1,400 kilometres for treatment is currently the only option for the community leader Nura Ward and at least 20 other people from South Australia's APY Lands.

"For them it's very concerning not to have anything clear from both the Northern Territory Health Minister and the South Australian Health Minister," Ms Masons said.

"There seems to be a lot of confusing statements and messages being put out into the public arena since this issue was brought into the fore last year."